Florida doctors worried DeSantis gives ‘fringe’ dermatologist a platform DeSantis is using his opposition to Covid-19 restrictions and advocacy of medical “free speech” as a central pillar of his messaging strategy, and the issue is likely to play into a possible 2024 presidential run. POLITICO

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Record number of deaths in US from cardiovascular disease early in pandemic: Report shows New data from the American Heart Association highlights the major impact COVID-19 had on cardiovascular health and death rates during the first year of the pandemic. ABC News ABC News

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FDA panel recommends move toward streamlined COVID vaccine approach CIDRAP

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) vaccine advisory group today (Thursday) recommended streamlining COVID-19 vaccine campaigns by offering just the newer bivalent (two-strain) versions of the vaccine for both primary and booster series.

The next worrisome coronavirus variant could come from China — will it get detected? Nature - Genomic surveillance is crucial for tracking the next ‘variant of concern’, but many countries are winding back their monitoring. Lewis, Dyani nature

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It remains crucial that variants be tracked, yet scientists question how quickly the next variant of concern will be detected as many countries wind down surveillance efforts.

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We are all playing Covid roulette. Without clean air, the next infection could permanently disable you | George Monbiot As rich people plough money into ventilation to protect themselves, those with long Covid are treated as an embarrassment, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot the Guardian

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Roche launches new test to detect fast spreading Omicron sub-variant Roche has launched a new PCR test to detect a fast-spreading sub-variant of the Omicron variant of Coronavirus, the Swiss drugmaker said on Thursday. Reuters Reuters

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Broad focus planned for revamped COVID panel under GOP majority - Roll Call The panel's new chairman wants an “after-action review” but also plans work on the origins of the coronavirus. Roll Call

The new chair of the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic is planning a wide focus on future pandemic preparedness and the impacts of the pandemic on the economy, education and the national supply chain.

Delays, snags hampered HHS pandemic relief efforts to vulnerable groups CIDRAP

A new US Government Accountability Office (GAO) report shows that the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS's) distribution of federal pandemic relief funds to support communities disproportionately affected by COVID-19 was hampered by delayed state acceptance of the funds and resource problems.

House GOP Stacks COVID Response Panel With Top COVID Conspiracy Theorists Marjorie Taylor Greene compared masks to the Holocaust. Ronny Jackson said omicron was a Democratic hoax. Definitely a credible committee! YahooNews

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) unveiled his picks on Tuesday for the new Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic: Republicans who have spread dangerous misinformation about COVID-19, compared wearing face masks to the Holocaust, and suggested that the omicron variant of the deadly virus was a Democratic hoax.

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